Tuning-peg for stringed instruments.



PATENTED NOV. 22, 1904.

" P. W. BECKER.

TUNING PEG FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 18, 1904. N0 MODEL.

J L9 7 51mm! WWW at 15 10 W z 7 Ma 2 J5 4. 9 f 61mm,

UNITED STATES Patented November 22, 190-21.

PATENT OEEIcE.

FREDERICK W. BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO MARIA ANTONIA BECKER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

TUNING-PEG FOR STRINGED INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 77 5,7 67, datedNovember 22, 1904;.

Application filedMarcll 18, 1904. Serial NO- 198,871. (No modelfl I!)(LZZ whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. BECKER, a citizen of the United States,residing in the borough of Manhattan, city of New York, and State of NewYork,have invented new and useful Improvements in Tuning-Pegs forStringed Instruments, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to tuning pegs or keys for stringed instruments,and more particularly to that type of such devices wherein thefrictional resistance required for said pegs is independent of theinstrument-head, such as is disclosed in Letters Patent No. 621,207,granted to Francis L. Becker, March 14, 1899,- and has for its object toprovide certain improvements over the construction disclosed in saidLetters Patent, as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out andclaimed.

In the drawings illustrating my invention I have shown the same appliedto a violin, to which it is peculiarly applicable, though it is equallywell adapted for use with all other kinds of stringed instruments, aswill be readily understood.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a violin-head with myimproved pegs applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a pair of pegs detached. Fig. 4 is asimilar view of one of said pegs, the section being taken at a rightangle to that of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4,illustrating a slightly-modified construction.

Similar numerals of reference denote corresponding parts in the severalviews.

Referring to said drawings, the referencenumeral 1 denotes the head ofaviolin having its sides apertured, as usual, to receive the four pegs,two on each side, into which the shanks of the pegs may fit snugly, butinto which they are not intended to jam, neither said apertures nor saidshanks being tapered at the points of contact.

Each peg consists of a shank 2, formed of a suitable composition andapertured at 3 for the reception of its string, said shank having moldedtherein a stem 4c, formed, preferably,

of metal and flattened or angular in cross-section and provided near itsinner end with an aperture 5, into which the material of shank 2 flowsin the process of molding, whereby the two are held firmly together.Said stem 4: is formed into a screw-threaded outer end 6, adapted toreceive a jam-nut 7 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

The handle or thumb-piece 8 of the peg is composed of any suitablematerial and is centrally apertnred to fit the flattened or angularconfiguration of stem 4, whereby it is freely adjustable longitudinallyon said stem, but will impart rotary movement thereto. Said handle orthumbpiece is also recessed or countersunk at 9 to receive the jam-nut7, it being observed byreference to Fig. 2 that the diameter of saidjam-nut is slightly greater than the cross area of said handle orthumbpiece through the flattened side of the latter, also for a purposehereinafter to be described.

Connecting each pair of pegs is a friction member .10, the. same beingformed of some ductile metal, preferably brass, and being twisted atapproximately its center at 11 at a right angle to its flat bodyportion, whereby said friction member may be bent at this point topermit the distance between its pegs to be varied, as clearly seen inFig. 2.

From the above description the operation of my improved constructionwill be understood to be as follows: Each pair of pegs and its commonfriction member 10 are assembled independently of the violin-head, asseen in Fig. 3, and are ready for insertion into the latter, theadjustabilityof said friction members by bending at their centers 11providing for any variation in the distance between the holes whichreceive the shanks. The pegs being inserted into position and theirstrings attached thereto in the usual manner, by slightly loosening itsjam-nut 7 each peg may be rotated until its string is properly attuned,when by an independent rotation of its jam-nut 7 the thumb-piece 8 andshank 2 will be clamped against the friction member 10, thus firmlyholding the peg in its adjusted position. It will be observed that byreason of the countersinking of said jam-nut T in the end of thumb-piece8 and the slightly larger diameter of said jam-nut the latter is underthe control of the operator while turning the peg without shifting theposition of his thumb and linger, so that when the proper tension on thestring is obtained the peg may be clamped in said position by simplysliding the thumb and finger across the thumb-piece 8 and without dangerof varying the position of the peg.

in order that the same movement of the thumb and finger may turn thejam-nuts T to the same positions on either side of the violinhead, Imake their screw-threads right and left handed, the jam-nuts for the Aand E strings on one side being right-handed, while those for the D andG strings on the other side are left-handed.

While I have illustrated my improvement as applied to a violin in whichthere are two pegs on each side and have therefore shown the said pegsconnected in pairs by friction members 10, I wish it to be understoodthat I do not confine myself to such an arrangement, as in instrumentswhere there are more than two pegs on a side three or more pegs may beconnected by a common friction member.

In Fig. 5 1 have illustrated a modified construction of the means forattaching the strings to the pegs, the usual apertures 3 being dispensedwith. in this construction the metal stem A is extended farther into theshank 2, and at the point where the string is to be attached said stemis notched to provide a central lug 12, around which the string may belooped, it being understood that said stem is exposed at this pointinstead of being covered by the material forming the shank 2. \Vith thisconstruction 1 also prefer to dispense with the aperture 5 in the stem4: and provide the same with notches 13' for the same purpose.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. in combination with a plurality of tuning-pegs for stringedinstruments, a friction member formed in one piece and adapted toreceive said pegs, and so constituted as to be capable of a relativeadjustment of its points of engagement with said pegs to vary thedistance between the same.

2. In combination with a plurality of tuning-pegs for stringedinstruments, a friction member adapted to receive said pegs and formedof a single piece of flat materialtwisted intermediate the points ofengagement with the pegs to permit said friction member to be bent tovary the distance between its points of engagement with said pegs in aplane at a right angle to the axes of said pegs.

3. 1n tuningpegs for stringed instruments, the combination with two ormore pegs, each consisting of two parts rotating together, butadjustable longitudinally with respect to each other, of a commonfriction member for said pegs independent of the instrument-head andadapted to be engaged between the parts of each peg, said frictionmember being formed in one piece and capable of a relative adjustment ofits points of engagement with said pegs to vary the distance betweensaid pegs.

sf. A tuning-peg for stringed instruments, consisting of a shank, anangular stem fixed to said shank and having a screw-threaded outer end,a handle apertured to correspond with the angular stem andlongitmlinally movable thereon, a friction member independent of theinstrument head through which said stem passes freely and with whichsaid shank and handle contact on opposite sides, and a jam-nut engagingthe threaded end of the stem to adjustably force the shank and handleagainst the friction member.

5. A tuning-peg for stringed instruments, consisting of a shank and ahandle rotatable together, but longitudinallymovable independently ofeach other, a friction member intermediate said shank and handle andinde pendent of the instrument-lread, and a jamnut for forcing saidshank and handle into contact with said friction member, said handlebeing recessed to receive said jam-nut.

6. A tuning-peg for stringed instruments, consisting of a shank and ahandle rotatable together, but longitudinally movable independently ofeach other, a friction member intermediate said shank and handle andindependent of the instrun'ient-head, and a jamnut for forcing saidshank and handle into contact with said friction member, said handlebeing recessed to receive said jam-nut, and said jam-nut being of adiameter to project beyond the grasping-surface of said handle.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

FEE 1 )ER I (J l\' \V. BEG hilt It.

\Vitnesses:

ALFRED R. PERRIN, Rom. M COASTLIN u.

